In “Bel and the Serpent,” the American government is portrayed very negatively. It seems like the Congolese were only given independence by Belgium because the Belgians and Americans knew they would fail. Belgium only wanted to prove to the Congolese that without their help, the country would fall apart, so Belgium quickly thrust the Congo into independence when, clearly, they were unprepared for such a task. To me, this showed that the Belgian and American governments were only interested in the reputation of their own governments and were uncaring towards the people of the Congo.
These governments also seemed very inconsiderate and mean towards Lumumba, the elected president of the Congo. Men were sent to the Congo to capture and kill Lumumba because Belgium and America saw him as a threat. However, in the book, Lumumba is portrayed by the Prices as being very peaceful and harmless. Was it really necessary for the government to assassinate Lumumba, or were they only trying to terminate the Congo’s independence more rapidly?
Even the way in which Lumumba was killed shows how these two governments were so clueless and uncaring about the Congolese people and their culture. The book says Lumumba was “...beaten so savagely they couldn’t return the body to his widow without international embarrassment” (323). The Congolese have strong beliefs about what goes on after someone dies. One of the most important things is being able to bury the body because otherwise, it will not rest, “It flies around at night” (323). The Belgians and Americans show no respect for the Congolese people at all. If it was necessary to kill Lumumba, they could have killed him in a more humane way and returned his body to his family.
These governments also seemed very inconsiderate and mean towards Lumumba, the elected president of the Congo. Men were sent to the Congo to capture and kill Lumumba because Belgium and America saw him as a threat. However, in the book, Lumumba is portrayed by the Prices as being very peaceful and harmless. Was it really necessary for the government to assassinate Lumumba, or were they only trying to terminate the Congo’s independence more rapidly?
Even the way in which Lumumba was killed shows how these two governments were so clueless and uncaring about the Congolese people and their culture. The book says Lumumba was “...beaten so savagely they couldn’t return the body to his widow without international embarrassment” (323). The Congolese have strong beliefs about what goes on after someone dies. One of the most important things is being able to bury the body because otherwise, it will not rest, “It flies around at night” (323). The Belgians and Americans show no respect for the Congolese people at all. If it was necessary to kill Lumumba, they could have killed him in a more humane way and returned his body to his family.
- Stephanie